A book with stiff protective covers (usually made of binder’s board or thick paperboard coated in buckram or another type of fabric, heavy paper, or occasionally leather) is called a hardcover or hardback.

The hardcover book printing cost is based on several factors. These include the production and setup costs. The setup costs involve the costs involved in preparing the text, laying it out on a page, and making the cover. The prices for these steps vary according to the length and quality of the work.

Offset printing

There are two basic types of printing for books: offset and print-on-demand. Offset printing can be as low as $1 per copy, while print-on-demand can cost as much as $4 per copy. In addition, offset printing offers more paper choices and features, such as embossing and specialty paper, that print-on-demand does not. However, cancel book printing companies are more challenging to work with for an indie author because they require typeset pages and professional publishers to produce a book.

Offset printing requires a significant investment in metal plates. In addition, offset printers spend a great deal of time ensuring that their files are error-free. If there is an error, they can only fix it by making new plates, which can be expensive, especially if your book has many revisions. However, with print-on-demand, you can print as many copies as you need.

Digital printing

There are a few things to remember when comparing hardcover book printing costs. First, you should know the cost per unit. Usually, the more copies you print, the cheaper the price per unit will be. For example, if you need to print 3,000 copies of your book, the cost per book will be $3; if you need to print 200 copies, the price per unit will be $8. You should also consider the type of paper you want, as different paper types will have other printing costs.

Second, it is best to find a local printer. Using a local printer will save you money compared to offshore printing. Offshore printing can take longer and increase your printing costs.

Offshore printing

Offshore printing of hardcover books is an option you can take advantage of if you have a small budget and want to print high-quality books quickly. Several companies offer POD printing, so you don’t have to pay for setup costs or minimum orders. Some of these companies offer offset printing services, which is an option you should also consider if you need a more significant number of copies.

POD (print-on-demand) printing is higher than traditional printing due to the higher cost of producing each book. POD services charge between 20 and 65% of the price of a book to offset this expense. Nevertheless, POD printing is often the cheaper option for small runs of books. The technology behind POD book printing is improving, but the product quality is still low. For instance, the paper quality is often inferior, and the binding methods rely on glue to bind the pages together. Furthermore, the ink used in the printing process is cheap.

Offset printing with CMYK ink

CMYK printing is an effective way to reproduce colors. It uses four primary colors and uses a Pantone matching system. This method allows the printer to create nearly every color using one or two inks. The cost of CMYK inks is higher than Pantone’s.

When printing a hardcover book, it is better to choose an offset press. This method is more expensive than digital printing and requires more setup time and preliminary adjustments. But it is also more economical if you print large quantities.

Offshore printing with CMYK ink

CMYK printing uses four colors, including black, white, and red, and can create over 16,000 colors. It’s commonly used in picture and photography books and for book covers. Printing books using Pantone colors, such as neon and metallic shades, is also possible. However, these are most commonly used for book covers.

Offset printing is more expensive than digital printing, but it can be more cost-effective if you order a large quantity. Offset printing requires printing plates and more preliminary adjustments. However, as production quantities increase, the costs become more evenly distributed across a more significant number of books.

Dust jackets

Unlike book covers, dust jackets are not printed on the book, so they must be ordered separately. They can be printed in black or solid white. If you order a book that includes a dust jacket, ensure the book is the same size as the jacket.

To increase the appeal of your book, you can add metallic foil to the dust jacket and catch the light and the eyes of book lovers. Another trend is spot UV, which is a high-quality, high-impact finish. Finally, if you want an extra glossy look, you can add gloss lamination to the dust jacket.